Prof. Jun Liu, rector of City University of Macau (CityU), was invited to attend the Times Higher Education Asia Universities Summit yesterday, where he delivered a keynote speech at the forum. This summit, co-hosted by the Macau University of Science and Technology and Times Higher Education (THE), took place in Macao for the first time, with the theme “Asia’s Rise: A Transformative Journey in Science, Technology and Innovation” The three-day event attracted over a thousand university leaders, senior administrators, and decision-makers from higher education institutions around the world. 

This summit aims to explore how Asia is emerging as a leading hub for innovation in science, technology, society, and research. It focuses on the key role that top universities play in promoting regional research culture and analyzes how Asia is building a vibrant innovation ecosystem driven by R&D investment. 

In his speech at the forum on “Higher Education, Research Innovation, and Development Strategies in Macao,” Rector Liu Jun discussed CityU’s vision to develop into a metropolitan university with “Macao’s Characteristics, China’s Soul, Global Vision.” He emphasized the focus on data science as a cornerstone, strengthening interdisciplinary construction by integrating technology into its development. 

Rector Liu highlighted CityU’s emphasis on research innovation and the establishment of an innovative talent cultivation model while leveraging Macao’s role as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries to promote international research collaboration and joint talent cultivation with international institutions. He also mentioned the University’s initiatives to encourage faculty to work with enterprises to enhance research output, and aims to translate academic achievements into societal benefits, thereby continually enhancing its academic reputation and social impact. 

Meanwhile, CityU also set up an exhibition booth at this year’s summit to share its educational philosophy, features, and achievements, promoting collaboration with universities worldwide. During the summit, CityU engaged in exchanges with higher education institutions from Asian countries, including Japan, India, Singapore, and Malaysia, further expanding its international collaboration.